Can of Worms (film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Can of Worms
VHS cover
Written by	Kathy Mackel
Directed by	Paul Schneider
Starring	Michael Shulman Malcolm McDowell
Music by	Mark Mothersbaugh
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Marcy Gross Joe Goodman
Running time	85 minutes
Production company(s)	Gross-Weston Productions
Distributor	Buena Vista Television
Release
Original release	April 10, 1999 (1999-04-10)

Can of Worms is a fun science fiction comedy film made for Disney Channel. It first showed on Disney Channel on April 10, 1999. The movie is based on a book by Kathy Mackel. This book was nominated for some awards, like the Young Reader's Choice in 2002. Can of Worms was also the first Disney Channel Original Movie to be rated TV-PG, meaning it might have some content that parents should be aware of for younger viewers.

Story of the Movie

Mike Pillsbury is a teenage boy who feels like he doesn't belong on Earth. He even thinks he might be an alien! During a football game, Mike gets hurt. He then sees an alien, which he thinks is a dream. Mike wonders if football is right for him, but his dad, who used to play, wants him to keep trying.

Mike is surprised when Katelyn Sandman, a popular girl, asks for his help. She needs help decorating the school for a Halloween dance. Mike's rival, Scott Schriebner, who is also on the football team, messes up the lights and music at the party. Mike gets upset and leaves. He uses a satellite dish to send a message into space, asking to be rescued. Suddenly, lightning strikes and breaks the dish.

The next day, an alien dog named Barnabus shows up. He can talk using a special device. Barnabus explains that Mike's message opened a "stargate" door. Barnabus works for a group that helps with problems in the galaxy. He came to answer Mike's call for help. Barnabus warns Mike that other aliens with bad plans are also coming through the stargate to find him.

Mike thinks he's dreaming. Later, he meets The Bom, an alien lawyer. The Bom wants Mike to sue Earth for millions of galactic credits. He says Earth's living conditions are terrible. Mike talks to Katelyn on the phone. He gets grossed out by how The Bom eats. Katelyn thinks Mike isn't listening to her. The Bom gets angry and leaves when Mike refuses to sue. Mike's friend Nick thinks Mike is going crazy when he hears about the aliens.

Barnabus learns about The Bom's visit. He tells Mike that sending his message was like "opening a can of worms." It told the universe that Earth has advanced technology. Because of this, Earth is no longer protected as a "primitive" planet. Mike agrees to let Barnabus take him to a quiet place. But first, he tries to make up with Katelyn. However, another alien, the Loafer Alien, arrives. This stops Mike from meeting Katelyn. She thinks Mike is rudely ignoring her. The Loafer Alien wants to be Mike's agent. He wants Mike to star in a TV show about his life as an immigrant. Mike says no.

Nick is shocked when many aliens arrive. They all have different offers for Mike. Katelyn visits Mike's house and sees the aliens too. Mike is about to make a deal with an alien to leave Earth. But then, the aliens run away. A dangerous alien called a Thoad is coming. The Thoad likes to capture rare creatures. Nick's younger brother, Jay, suddenly arrives. The Thoad sucks Jay into the stargate and takes him to its home planet. Barnabus says the Thoad will keep capturing creatures until it finds the perfect one.

The kids ask Scott to be bait for the Thoad. This way, they can get through the stargate to the Thoad's planet. The Thoad is safe from space police there. Scott doesn't believe the kids about aliens at first. But they convince him that he is the perfect bait. The stargate opens to pull Scott in. This lets Barnabus and the other kids go through too. They end up in a cave where the Thoad keeps its zoo of captured creatures. Mike sees an alien that looks just like the ones he described in his stories. He wonders how he knew about it. The Thoad, in its human form, faces Barnabus and the kids.

The Thoad changes into its frog-like alien form. But it gets trapped in a cage for a short time. Mike uses the Thoad's key to free the captured creatures, including Scott and Jay. Barnabus and the kids return to Earth. But the stargate stays open long enough for the Thoad to follow them. Barnabus calls the space police to arrest the Thoad. Later, at a football game, Barnabus tells Mike that his message was seen as an accident. Earth is now a protected planet again. Barnabus offers to take Mike with him. But Mike decides that Earth is his home and says goodbye to his friend.

Who's in the Movie?

• Michael Shulman – Mike Pillsbury
• Erika Christensen – Katelyn Sandman
• Adam Wylie – Nick
• Andrew Ducote – Jay
• Garrett M. Brown – Mike's father
• Lee Garlington – Mike's mother
• Brighton Hertford – Jill Pillsbury, Mike's sister.
• Marcus Turner – Scott Schriebner
• Chris Davies – Ryan
• Marie Stillin – Mrs. Nickerson, the teacher in Mike's computer class.
• Jessica Murdoch – Katelyn's Friend
• Terry David Mulligan – Coach Trembly
• Hrogather Matthews – Thoad's human form
• Brian Steele – Thoad's creature form

Voice Actors

• Malcolm McDowell – Barnabus, an alien dog.
• Bruce Lanoil – The Bom, an alien lawyer.
• Wally Wingert – The Loafer Alien, who wants to make a TV show about Mike.
• David Coburn – The Jarm, an alien who wants Mike to sell his "Jarmonica" slicing tool.
• Tara Charendoff – Lula, an alien who wants to date Mike.
• Peter Kelamis – Intergalactic Cop
• JD Hall – Thoad's creature form

When Did It Air Again?

Even though it wasn't shown for many years, the movie was broadcast again. Disney Channel showed it as part of their "Hauntober Fest" in October 2006. On October 23, 2007, it was part of the Halloween movie lineup again. The film was also part of "Wiztober" in 2008 and 2009, which featured Halloween films. It aired again on Disney Channel on October 9, 2011, for Disney's "Monstober" event, and on October 6, 2015. The movie was also shown in May 2016. This was part of Disney Channel's celebration of 100 Disney Channel Original Movies. You can also watch the movie on Disney+ now, along with other older Disney Channel Original Movies.

See also

In Spanish: Can of Worms para niños